I. Theology Formation Programme for the Laity
Originally requested by a small group of interested lay people, we have since June 2013 started teaching theology to lay people in Kuching who seriously wish to undertake a systematic reflection of theological issues but have no where to go to do so. Upon request, we have also accepted a class in Sibu to begin early May 2015.
An ideal class size is 15 people. A preferred range is 12 to 20.
Three courses are now on offer, and more will be added upon request.
[1] Christology
Course Aim: To appreciate the tremendous significance and implications of the true humanity of Jesus the Christ in Scriptures, tradition and Christological reflections from the early Church to contemporary times.
Course length: 12 lectures of 2 hours each
Contents: 7 chapters in 3 parts
Part I: The identity-question of Jesus of Nazareth
1. Introduction: What does it mean to follow Jesus? An initial question; the four gospel-portraits of Jesus of Nazareth.
2. Retrospection and the inner dynamism of faith.
3. The lasting significance of Nicaea and Chalcedon.
Part II: The salvation-question of Jesus the Christ
4. Salvation by ransom, penal substitution and satisfaction.
5. Salvation by love, non-violence and positive non-acceptance.
Part III: Gospel markers of the person, life, and ministry of Jesus of Nazareth for the work of Kingdom-advancement of Christian disciples.
6. From birth to the Galilean ministry.
7. From Caesarea Philippi to the Cross.
[2] Theology of Creation
Course aim: To reclaim the doctrine and faith in creation and the Creator and the develop a deep consciousness of the ecological crisis.
Course length: 6 lectures of 2 hours each.
Contents: 6 chapters:
1. Introduction: The Bible on creation-faith and redemption;
2. God the Creator;
3. The meaning of the biblical creation account;
4. The creation of the human being;
5. Sin and salvation;
6. Laudato Si’.
[3] Grace and Sin
Course aim: To undertake a brief study of the historical development of the doctrines of grace and sin.
Course length: 6 lectures of 2 hours each.
Contents: 6 chapters:
1. What is grace? A reflection on Peter Fransen’s “A Parable”.
2. From a human parable to God’s own parable in OT and NT.
3. Biblical sources on doctrine of sin in Adam and Paul; reflections on Romans 5:12-21 and 2 Corinthians 9:6-15.
4. The Pelagian controversy of the 5th century.
5. Luther and Trent.
6. Bonhoeffer’s “costly vs. cheap grace”; the grace of a Mary-Martha duplex.
[4] Mark, the Gospel of Service: Christ, Kingdom, and Discipleship
Course aim: To undertake a brief study of the Gospel According to Mark in relation to the identity of Jesus, his faith and vision for humanity, his teaching and life, death and resurrection, and implications for Christology and Christian discipleship.
Course length: 6 lectures of 2 hours each.
Contents: 4 sections:
1. Introduction; Jesus and the Kingdom of God.
2. Part I: Ministry in Galilee.
3. Part II: On the Way to Jerusalem and Discipleship Teaching.
4. Part III: Ministry in Jerusalem, Suffering, Death & Resurrection.
[5] Christ, the Human Face of God: Mercy, Compassion, and Forgiveness
Course aim: To undertake a brief study of the Gospel According to Luke with special attention on the identity of Jesus surrounding the Birth Narrative, his parabolic teaching and works on mercy, compassion and forgiveness, and the resurrection narratives, and implications for Christology and Christian living.
Course length: PENDING
Contents: PENDING
[6] Christ, the Human Face of God: Mercy, Compassion, and Forgiveness
Course aim: To undertake a brief study of the Gospel According to John and its special slant on high Christology, the Seven Signs, the Seven I Am Sayings of Jesus, and the special role of the Mother of Jesus for Christian living.
Course length: PENDING
Contents: PENDING
[7] Ecclesiology: Models and Issues of Church for Christian Living
Course aim: PENDING.
Course length: PENDING
Contents: PENDING
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II. Retreats and Seminars
We have been conducting retreats and seminars based on our existing modules as well as going to the drawing board to design programmes on request. Some of the modules which are still current include the following:
[1] The Prodigal Son Retreat
The current module was first designed together with Archbishop John Ha, Kuching, Sarawak. Inspired initially by Fr. Henri Nouwen’s book titled “The Return of the Prodigal Son,” it is based on the Parable of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15, Rembrandt’s classic painting, and personal experiences and reflections.
The retreat time-table may be adjusted according to whether it is a lived-in or non-lived-in weekend.
The programme begins with Bible Enthronement on a Friday evening at 8:00 PM followed by “An Introductory Talk” and ends on Sunday afternoon at around 3:30 PM after a “Service of the Cross & Resurrection”.
Saturday begins with Mass. Two talks in the morning focus on the Younger Son and two talks in the afternoon focus on the Elder Son. The evening is taken up by Holy Hour, Benediction and Confessions.
Sunday begins with Mass. Two talks in the morning focus on the Father figure. The retreat concludes with a Service on the Cross and Resurrection in the afternoon.
Note: The Retreat Team normally comprises Archbishop John Ha, Angie & Jeff Goh, except where Archbishop Ha is unavailable in which event a member of the local clergy may be invited to make up the team. To include Archbishop Ha, please apply early, certainly before the end of each calendar year, for possible inclusion in the following calendar year.
[2] Living the Gospel
Type of programme: A seminar.
Focus: St Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians as a perennially serious and often painful challenge and at times a rude wake up call towards authentic discipleship and truthful community.
Duration: Three half days, usually a Saturday morning and afternoon, and a Sunday morning.
Contents:
[I] Introduction – conversion and commitment to discipleship.
[II] Knowing God, Belonging to Christ – problem of Factions in the Faith Community.
[III] Belonging to Christ in an Unbelieving Society – Sexual Immorality – Problems of Incest; Going to Prostitutes; Taking Brothers to Court; Marriage or Celibacy; Eating Meat Offered to Idols.
[IV] Belonging to Christ in a Believing Community – Problems of The Lord’s Supper; Spiritual Gifts.
[V] Hoping in God, the “All in All” – Problem of Resurrection of the Body.
[3] Biblical Spirituality Seminar for Couples
Type of programme: A seminar.
Focus: Couple spirituality, drawn from the Bible and lots of real life stories.
Duration: Three half days, usually a Saturday morning and afternoon, and a Sunday morning, with two input sessions each.
Contents:
1: Male & Female He Created Them.
2. Submit to One Another.
3: Betrayal & Tell-tale Signs.
4. Sweating Blood.
5: Raising Children – Joseph as Model.
6: Loving Service in Foot-Washing.
[4] Eucharist: Real Presence and Life
Type of programme: A seminar.
Focus: The official teaching on the Eucharist, coupled with challenging spiritual and pastoral reflections towards Eucharistic living.
Duration: Two half days, usually a Saturday morning and afternoon, with two input sessions each.
Contents:
1. Eucharist – Institution and Real Presence.
2. The Last Supper.
3. The Miracle of the Loaves.
4. The Walk to Emmaus.
[5] In Spirit and in Truth
Type of programme: A seminar.
Focus: Stories of Jesus’ encounters with Women in the Gospel of St John and Book of Esther; raising consciousness of pervasive prejudice against women; the laity’s hard look at their responsibility.
Duration: Three half days, usually a Saturday morning and afternoon, and a Sunday morning, with two input sessions each.
Contents:
1. From Cana to Calvary.
2. Samaritan Woman at the Well.
3. The Woman Caught in Adultery.
4. Mary of Bethany Anointing Jesus’ Feet.
5. Mary Magdalene at the Tomb.
6. Queen Esther and the Catholic Laity.
[6] The Last Judgment
Type of programme: A seminar.
Focus: Michelangelo’s classic painting, theological considerations and the Scripture passages related to the Last Judgment and the resurrection, towards a more ethical living in the here and now.
Duration: Two to two and a half hours – in one evening or one half day, morning or afternoon.
Contents: Michelangelo’s classic painting, together with extensive selection of Bible passages, stories and spiritual reflections.
[7] Advent Retreat – From Christian Identity to the Last Judgment
Type of programme: A seminar/retreat.
Focus: Spiritual reflections for the season of Advent, taking stock, rendering account.
Duration: Three half days, usually a Saturday morning and afternoon, and a Sunday morning, with two input sessions each.
Contents: Meditating on Scriptures and classical paintings, participants move from a heightened consciousness of their Christian identity, through prayers, mission, communion, life-interruptions, and spiritual gifts, towards the Last Judgement. Special emphasis on Word and life.
[8] Programmes on the spirituality of Pope Francis; Creation , Sin and Shame; the Sacraments; the RCIA; Ecclesiology; Christology; Paschal Mystery;, Day of Recollection; Group Retreat.
Custom-tailored on request.
Contact:
Dr. Jeffrey & Angie Goh
House phone: +6082410414
Mobile: 0138171858
Email: jeffangiegoh@gmail.com